Gun sight



Sept. 11, 1956 w. H. SWETT GUN SIGHT Filed Sept. 20, 1954 INVENTOR ZUZ'ZZz'am Hemy 620:5?

GUN SIGHT Application September 20, 1954, Serial No. 456,919

2 Claims. (Cl. 33-52) This invention is directed to, and it is a major object to provide, an improved gun sight, particularly a front sight adapted-but not limitedfor use on rifles.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a gun sight which embodies a novel assembly of sighting elements which cooperate in use to produce an extremely eifective optical result which permits of quick, easy, and

accurate aiming by the gunner of the firearm on which the gun sight is mounted.

An additional object of the instant invention is to provide a gun sight. which embodies, on a suitable mount, elements'which define a relatively wide, rearwardly exposed field of one color, and a rearwardly exposed central sighting line on such field extending at least to the top thereof; said field and line being visually distinct, preferably by being of contrasting colors. With a gun sight so characterized, the eye of the gunner tends to'focus on such sighting line, and especially on its upper end without conscious effort, so that said end can be sighted as a tip or bead on the target with great facility.

A further object of the invention is to provide a gun sight, as in the preceding paragraph, wherein said central sighting line, in the preferred embodiment, is formed by a sighting strip which projects at its upper end a short distance above the field; such upper end of said strip-whicl1 end serves as a tip or bead-being visually emphasized, firstly because of the color contrast with the field, and secondly by the projection above said field.

A separate object of the invention is to provide a gun sight which makes possible, and without conscious effort, more accurate vertical and horizontal alinement in the sighting of a gun on the target, and the quick correction of any sighting error of which the gunner may become cognizant before firing,

It is also an object of the invention to provide a gun sight wherein the block which defines the field, and the strip which defines the sighting line, are initially separate, removably mounted parts so that they may be detached for replacement or substitution.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a gun sight which is designed for ease and economy-of manufacture, and convenience of installation, either at the time of initial manufacture of a firearm, or subsequent mounting thereon as an attachment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a practical, reliable, and durable gun sight, and one which will be exceedingly eitective for the purpose for which it is designed.

These objects are accomplished by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the gun sight as mounted on a rifle barrel.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the gun sight as so mounted.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, the gun sight comprises a sight assembly, indicated generally at 1, carried by a longitudinal ramp 2 fixed on the forward end of the barrel 3 of a firearm, such as a rifle.

The sight assembly 1 comprises a transversely extending mounting cradle 4 secured to the ramp 2, adjacent the forward end of the latter, by a transverse dovetail joint 5. l

The mounting cradle 4 is U-shaped in end elevation; i. e., includes a longitudinal, upwardly opening channel 6.

An elongated sighting block 7 seats in the channel 6 in matching relation; the dimensions of said sighting block 7 being such that it not only projects some distance above the top of the mounting cradle 4, but extends a distance I rearwardly of the latter.

The elongated sighting block 7 is fiat or horizontal on top in the forward portion thereof, as at 8, while the remainder or rearward portion of said block slopes downwardly and rearwardly, with the upper face 9 defining a I sighting field which is relatively wide, though elongated.

The sighting block 7 is formed with a full length, central, longitudinal channel 10 which opens upwardly, and an elongated sighting strip 11 is disposed, on edge, in the channel 10, extending the full length of the elongated sighting block 7.

" 7 to the upper edge of the bead 12.

The sighting line defined by the inclined edge 13 of the strip 11 is relatively narrow as compared to the full width of the sighting field defined by the face 9 of said block 7.

In order that said sighting line and field be visually distinct they are preferably of different colors. One way in which this can be accomplished is to produce the block 7 from metal and the strip 11 from relatively highly colored plastic or the like.

In addition to the visual distinction resultant from the difference in color of the central sighting line defined by the edge 13 of the strip 11, and the sighting field defined by the face 9 of the block 7, there is an enhancement of such visual distinction by reason of the fact that the inclined upper edge 13 of the strip 11 extends, in an upward and rearward direction, above the face 9 of block 7, whereby to produce a longitudinal ridge 14 which runs from the rear end of said block upwardly to merger with the bead 12.

The strip 11 which matchingly engages in the channel '11 may also have a longitudinal dovetail joint therewith,

as at 15, along the lower edge of said strip; this to the end that the strip can only be placed in, or removed from, the block 7 by relative longitudinal sliding motion.

The mounting cradle 4, sighting block 7, and sighting strip 11, are all normally maintained in connection by means of a transverse screw 16 which runs therethrough from one side of the cradle 4; said screw including a knurled finger knob 17 on one end thereof.

When the above described gun sight is in use, in combination with a rear sight on the firearm, the eye of the gunner will-without conscious efiortfocus on any change or visual distinction that may exist relative to a smooth surface; to wit, the smooth surface of the sighting field formed by the face 9 of block 7. If such change or visual distinction be a line, ridge, or a change in color it stands out more sharply, and in the present gun sight all three are present.

Thus, in the use of the present gun sight the eye firstly focuses automatically on the sighting line, defined by the edge 13, extending lengthwise in the relatively wide sighting field formed by the face 9. Immediately upon the eye focusing on such sighting line .it then tendswithout conscious etfortto seek the upper end of such line, which is the rear end of the head 12, and which bead projects above the top of the sighting block 7.

As a result the gunner can more readily and with greater accuracy aline the bead 12 with the rear sight and the target. 7

The different coloring of the sightingline and the field, with said line on the ridge 14, and with the upper end of the sighting line terminatingin the head 12 above the top of the sighting block 7, effects sharp and clear sighting, even under conditions of poor light.

Also, with the described gun sight, including the visually distinct sighting line on a relatively wider field, .proper horizontal control-as well as elevationcan be accomplished by the gunner within very close limits.

Should the gunner, for any particular shooting condition, desire a vertical sighting line at the rear of the gun sight, the sighting block 7 together with the sighting strip 11 carried therein, is reversed in its position in the cradle 4; the normally front of said sighting block and strip being vertical and exposed.

With a gun sight embodying the present invention, .a gunner can-:by reason of the optical principles involved in the sight assembly-a-accomplish much I greater accuracy, whether a novice or an expert marksman, than with other types of gun sights.

From the foregoing description it will be readily Seen that there has been produced such a device as substantially fulfills the objects of the invention, as setforth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device, still in practice such deviations therefrom may be resorted to as do not, form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, the following is claimed as new and useful, and upon which Letters Patent are desired:

1. A sight for a gun barrel including an elongated ramp adapted to be mounted on the barrel lengthwise thereof, a mounting cradle supported on the ramp and including a channel open to the top and extending lengthwise of the ramp, a sighting block removably mounted in the channel and having a channel open to the top and extending lengthwise of the ramp, a sighting stripremovably mounted in the last named channel and projecting above the block, and a screw removably mounted inthe cradle and extendingracrossthechannelthereof and through the block and strip to removably retain the same in connection with each other and with the cradle.

2. A sight for a gun barrel including an elongated ramp adapted to be mounted on the barrel lengthwise thereof, a mounting cradle supported on the ramp and including a channel open to the top and extending lengthwise .of the ramp, said channel being open-ended, a sighting unit reversibly seated in the channel and including a block projecting above the channel and a central bead-defining sighting. strip projecting above the block for the length thereof, said unit extending beyond one end of the cradle, the extended portion having a downward slope toits outer end, the opposite end of the unit being vertical, and means removably securing the unit in the channel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

